Gibsons Mayor Barry Janyk plans to bow out of municipal politics after losing his bid to become the NDP candidate for this riding.
Janyk placed fourth out of six candidates in the Oct. 3 NDP nomination vote, behind Nicholas Simons, Judith Wilson and Kathy Northrup.
"Nicholas, obviously, had done a very good effort further to the federal election. He led in every ballot," said Janyk. "I ran in the hopes the NDP party could change and evolve. It appears the party has chosen to accept the status quo. I have no choice but to accept that."
Now Janyk, who was first elected to Gibsons council in 1996 and is serving his second term as mayor, is looking forward to leaving office.
In next year's municipal election, Janyk said, "I will not be running for the mayoral position or for any elected position on the Sunshine Coast."
Janyk said he's accomplished much of what he set out to do when he entered Gibsons politics.
"Eight years ago, I had a definite agenda, and every single one of those initiatives is done," he said.
Those accomplishments include a new sewage treatment plant, revising the town's official community plan, development of the harbour and Winegarden waterfront park and re-writing zoning bylaws.
Janyk said for the rest of his term in office, he plans to focus on regional issues. He said he'll be demanding better service from B.C. Ferries and accountability from the organizers of the 2010 Olympics.
"With all the hoopla around the 2010 Olympics, I have a very serious task to ensure the public is represented well," he said. "I want to make sure local taxpayers don't get stung."
Janyk also plans to be active on the issue of electoral reform and what he describes as "public disillusionment with the party system."
He said it is "intrinsically wrong and unfair" for 235 party members to choose a candidate to represent 35,000 voters.
